A vociferous protest against big dams reaches its crucial stage when union environment minister Jairam Ramesh was greeted with protest as he was arriving in Guwahti for a public hearing on the NHPC owned big dam in Arunachal Pradesh.
As the Union minister started the public hearing at Machkhowa, ITA, hundreds of local organizations and political parties approached him to register stiff protest again the on going construction of the big dam in Gerukamukh by NHPC in the name of the lower Subansiri hydel project. Citing the expert panel report, these parties and organisations have told the minister that the big dam might spell an ecological disaster for the people in down stream areas.
PermalinkSubmitted by Hayang on Wed, 29/09/2010 - 05:16
--Lame Excuse by NHPC CMD S.K. Garg--
Despite strident protests in Assam with environmental concerns over construction of mega dams, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Chairman-cum-Managing Director S.K. Garg says that the project builders plan to commission three units in March 2012 and the remaining five units by December 2012. This is because Rs 4000 crore of the Rs 9000 crore project has been utilized. That means 40% of the expenses have been made. But is this a reason enough to sacrifice environment and the population of downstream areas which cannot be compensated even if the Indian central government bring all the riches in the world. When land is lost, existence is lost. When existence is lost, the very right to our natural habitat is lost.
In the devastating floods caused by the Tehri dam in Uttarakhand, the central government has promised a package of Rs 500 crore to the state government. That means every year there will be floods, the Indian government will dole out Rs 500 crore. So, within 8 years, Rs 4000 crore will have to be shelved out. If this is the economics involved, Rs 4000 crore is nothing for a rich country like India where many politicians and ministers have pocketed hundreds and thousands of crores. So, the justification of Rs 4000 crore by S.K. Garg sounds to be a lame excuse to keep the industrial corporations who fund the elections happy and satisfied.
11 Apr 2013 - 8:41am | Abdul Gani
Two artistes from Dalgaon, Darrang district have started a tour on wheels to promote the cultural richness of Assam. The duo, Mrinal Dev Sarmah and Jinku, in their mid 20s, will paint...
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"Politicians of country have resorted to self-centred politics there by amassing unaccounted wealth. The political corruption has deteiorated the sceneraio of politics . Though there exist polticians...
11 Mar 2011 - 1:04am | editor
Pro talk ULFA leader Anu Buragohain has been arrested on extortion charges. According to information, Buragohain, the publicity member of the outfit's central committee was arrested by Chandmari...
25 Mar 2013 - 12:02pm | AT News
Dispur is waiting for Anup Cheita’s extradition to boost the peace process with ULFA.In his response to a question on ULFA-government process, minister Rockybul Hussian on behalf of the home...
Indefinite curfew has been clamped in Haflong following a clash between a group of people and DHD(J) militants during the ongoing Dima Hasao bandh on Friday.Tension started in the hills town when a group of bandh supporters attacked a veterinary office and started pelting stones at the DHD(J) designated camp. A DHD(J) militant was injured in the attack. Other camp inmates also tried to retaliate forcing the security forces deployed there to resorted to blank firing to disperse the violent picketers.
Dispur on Friday announced a Rs 200-crore scheme to revive the field of agriculture in the flood ravaged scene.Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen said that the government had formulated the special programme to help the agriculture sector, for which funds would be made available by State and central government.According to him, the department had cancelled all forms of leave of all agriculture department officers for the next two months, till the time of rabi sowing, to make up for the loss of kharif crop due to floods.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is scheduled to undertake another aerial survey of flood-hit areas in Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts on Saturday.Gogoi is expected to meet district administration officials from these districts on Saturday. Towards the evening he would be back to Guwahati. On his arrival, the chief minister is slated to hold a high level meeting of the officers to take stock of the relief operations.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday conducted an aerial survey of flood-hit districts on Friday.Gogoi laid thrust on relief and rescue of the marooned people. At the outsit he reached Jagiroad and visited the affected people in Moigaon where the victims alleged non receipt of relief materals. Then he left for Darrang, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji apart from Kazaringa National Park and the Majuli.
The overall flood situation continues to improve on Friday. The water levels of the mighty Brahmaputra and its tributaries are receding.The death toll has gone upto 27. Six people have been remained traceless. Over 15 lakh people in 18 districts have been affected. Assam government has announced a 200 crore special scheme covering four lakh 10 thousand hectare crop lands which will benefit around 12 lakh flood affected population.
Aaranyak, one of the most prominent conservation group in the country has expressed its shock and deepest grievance at the recent incidences of poaching of four rhinos in the flood stricken Kaziranga National Park in just three days time. This is a massive setback to the efforts towards conservation and protection of this unique creature that finds an inherent place in the very heart of Assamese culture.We strongly feel that the management of the Assam Forest Department has not been up to the task of protecting the rhinos, especially in conditions of flooding of the Park. This, we feel, can be ascribed to a complete lack of coordination between the Forest Department and the Karbi Anglong...
The Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi formally released a book, on September 18, titled “West meets East: Schopenhauer and India”, edited by Arati Barua under their specific program “Germany and India 2011-12 : Infinite opportunities”. Robin Mallick , Program director South Asia region formally released the book. Astrid Radunski, cultural counselor of the Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany in New Delhi, spoke about IDSS and its work. Professor Nirmalya Narayan Chakravorty , Member Secretary of Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR) who Chaired the session, delivered a lecture on about the book . Professor Matthias Kossler, honorable President of the...
Security has been beefed up across the state following ULFA’s stepped up activities to make their presence felt.
The outfit is trying to carry out a string of blast in the vital spots forcing security forces to be kept on high alert. Vehicles are being frisked to avoid any incident. In Guwahati, security forces have sealed the entry and exit routes. According to intelligence inputs, ULFA’s Paresh Baruah faction has recruited 1000 new cadres who are being trained by Manipur based People's Liberation Army. ULFA has also stepped up extortion activities in Upper Assam.
Former army chief Gen V K Singh on Monday said that BTAD violence is a fit case for the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act to be applied. Talking to reporters in the sideline of a function, he said that army could have reached the spot early and that there was no need to wait. He further questioned the alleged delay in sending army to the riot hit spot.
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